Everything You Need To Know About Concrete Driveway Sealing

Sealing is often done on concrete driveways to make them look good and to extend its life. Concrete driveways are often subjected to extreme hot and cold climates that make them prone to cracks and other damages. The porous nature of the concrete surface also makes it susceptible to stains. But, it is usual for people to doubt the necessity of sealing as they expect concrete driveways reinforced with good quality steel mesh like Best Bar to be strong enough to withstand the onslaught of the elements. There are several advantages for sealing your driveway which will be discussed here.

We have included some of the important questions that usually come up while talking about sealing. With some help from premierconstructionnews.com we have attempted to answer these queries for you. Let’s get started!

Why should we do concrete driveway sealing?
Driveways are often subjected to extreme weather conditions that can adversely affect its longevity. It also has to bear the burden of traffic. The concrete driveway can undergo damages like cracking and chipping when exposed to such harsh elements continuously. The rainwater that is absorbed by the concrete can expand when it is frozen, thereby causing damage to the driveway. Sealers will protect the driveway from snow, wind and rainfall besides beautifying your driveway.

Should we seal a new driveway too?
The answer is yes. While it is true that concrete is a strong material, we should still keep in mind that it can be damaged by harsh weather conditions which can cause cracks to appear on its surface. A new concrete driveway should be sealed as soon as the concrete dries up. This way we can minimize the damage that can be caused due to holes and cracks.

How often should we seal the driveway?
Driveways may require sealing to be reapplied every 2-3 years. If the weather conditions are not too harsh, then maybe a less frequent reapplication will do.

What are the materials used for sealing?
Some of the materials commonly used for sealing are acrylic resin sealers and polyurethane sealers. Epoxy sealers and penetrating resin sealers are also widely used. Acrylic resin sealers are the most commonly used ones as they are the cheapest among the lot. Virgin acrylic, also called as pure acrylic resin, provides results that are long-lasting. Polyurethane and epoxy sealers prevent moisture from going through the concrete causing fog formation between the concrete and sealer. Another disadvantage of these sealers is that they are slippery. Penetrating sealers are soaked up by the concrete thus preventing oil, moisture and other contaminants from getting into the concrete. They are not glossy and hence not slippery.

What are the methods of applying sealers?
Sealers can be applied either by using rollers or by sprayers. Solvent-based sealers are mostly applied using sprayers and water-based ones using rollers. Sealers can usually cover an area of 250-300 square feet per gallon. So, it would be prudent to apply two thin coats of sealer to spread it evenly.

Using high quality sealers can provide good protection to your concrete driveway for a long time.